Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra

Hyperion

A swinging, vibrant picture book about the jazz composer Duke Ellington, by the award-winning duo Andrea and Brian Pinkney. His name was Edward Kennedy Ellington, but people just called him “Duke.” Born in 1899, he was a forerunner in the evolution of jazz. By the time Duke was nineteen, he was

A swinging, vibrant picture book about the jazz composer Duke Ellington, by the award-winning duo Andrea and Brian Pinkney.His name was Edward Kennedy Ellington, but people just called him “Duke.” Born in 1899, he was a forerunner in the evolution of jazz. By the time Duke was nineteen, he was playing at parties, pool halls, and cabarets, and then in 1927, he entertained at the hottest place around, The Cotton Club in Harlem. But the defining moment of his career came when Duke and his orchestra gave a groundbreaking performance at Carnegie Hall, where they first performed his suite “Black, Brown, and Beige,” a tribute to the history of African American people. Beloved by jazz fans old and new, Duke Ellington, the “King of the Keys,” is a legend that continues to live on and influence musicians everywhere.